Delivering from memory
Subtitle: the effect of performance on the early Christian audience
By: William D. Shiell
Publisher: Pickwick Pub.
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Eugene, Or
Language: eng
Number of pages: 136
ISBN-13: 9781608996780
Subjects: Oral tradition; Bible; Storytelling; Memory; Criticism, interpretation; Ancient Oratory; Ancient Rhetoric; Christianity
Description: "When the New Testament was read publicly, what effect did the performances have on the audience? In Delivering from Memory, William Shiell argues that these performances shaped early Christian paideia, among communities of active, engaged listeners.  Using Greco-Roman rhetorical conventions, Shiell's groundbreaking study suggests that lectors delivered from memory without memorizing the text verbatim and audiences listened with their memories in a collaborative process with the performer.  The text functioned as a starting place for emotion, paraphrase, correction, and instruction.  In the process, the performances trained and shaped the character of the reader and the formation of the audience."--P. [4] of cover.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-119) and indexes.
Table of contents: title: A performance that mattered; title: Delivery and memory in the ancient world; title: Delivery and memory in early Christian performances; title: Delivering Jesus from memory; title: Interpreting in performance.